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For several years now I have tried to find an outlet for some of my free time and energy. I have volunteered for the American Red Cross, the Art's Council, the Special Olympics, I've also been President of the local Art's Council here where I live. Nothing really made me passionate. I would occasionally look up Volunteer positions on the internet and I would always come across the Guardian ad Litem web page. I would read a little of it and go on. But, time after time I found myself on this page. In the first part of this year I was helping out as a volunteer waitress for a "benefit dinner" to help a local parishioner who needs a liver transplant. There was a lady at one of the tables I was waiting on and I kept looking at her trying to figure out where I knew her from. Finally, I just asked her where she worked, as she looked very familiar to me. She told me she was a "Guardian ad Litem" I couldn't believe it. Just the night before I had once again found myself on the web page for Guardian ad Litem's. We talked and she gave me her supervisor's name and number. I took it home, laid it by the phone for a few days, but didn't act on it. The next day I received an email from this lady saying she had spoken with her supervisor and she hadn't heard from me. So, I called up the supervisor made an appointment for an interview to talk with her about this volunteer job. Well, here it is March 20th, 2002 and I have been to school, did my observation court time and was sworn in as a Court Appointed Guardian ad Litem on Februry 19th, 2002. I have found what I was looking for. It is so rewarding to know that you might have such an impact on a child's life; it's also scary. I don't make the final decision but I am the eyes and ears of the Judge and I do make some recommendations as to what would be best for the child client. You see, that is our sole job, we are the Child Clients Guardian. The parents might have attorney's, the state has their attorneys, and DSS (Department Of Social Services) have attorney's; we make sure that the focus stays on what is in the best interest of the child client. We literally are their "Voice" in the court. We speak for them. We try, very hard to work some of the child's wants and wishes into the final call, but it has to be what is BEST FOR THE CHILD. That is our mission, and one we take seriously and not with out a lot of stress, self-doubt and emotion. This is a child's life we are dealing with. And you have to be SERIOUS. I am so proud and pleased to be a part of this wonderful program that is all over the United States. Please if you have time and love to give, consider this as a way to give back. I am thankful my grandchildren have never known the fear of going to court or of being taken from their parents. Even if a child is being abused or neglected by a parent, the child more often than not still clings to that parent. It may be all they know. Below is a link that will take you to the NC State Guardian ad Litem program and as I said they are in all states. It shouldn't hurt to be a child. Speak up for a child who can't. |
A Guardian ad Litem is a trained volunteer appointed by Juvenile Court to represent the best interest of an abused or neglected child. The GAL is paired with an Attorney Advocate to represent and be a voice for the child in court.
::What a Guardian ad Litem Does::
- Investigates the facts, carrying out a thorough study by interviewing many people and collecting records from a variety ofsources
- Works with human service agencies to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to meet each child's needs
- Reports information and recommendations to the court to help the judge determine what is in the child's best interest
- Serves as a spokesperson for the child along with the attorney advocate
- Monitors the child's progress to make sure the orders of the court are carried out and that families and children in need receive the appropriate help.
::Who Can Become a Guardian ad Litem::
Volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Those interested in the program must show maturity, good judgment, solid moral character and be willing to take a stand-to be assertive on the children's behalf.
::Training::
Guardian ad Litem volunteers participate in 20 to 30 hours of training conducted by the local district. They learn about roles and responsibilities, courtroom procedure, pertinent laws and legal issues, permanency planning, community resources, and effective advocacy for children. In-service training is also provided on topics ranging from child sexual abuse to early childhood development and adolescent behavior.
Established by the North Carolina legislature in 1983, the Guardian ad Litem program, through its volunteers, represents the needs of all North Carolina children whose cases are petitioned to the courts because they are abused, neglected, or dependent.
Today, more than 20,000 children are represented with help from about 2,800 volunteers across the state. However, more than 3,000 children have no volunteer advocate. This year thousands of cases of neglect and abuse will require the services of a Guardian ad Litem.
After an initial training program Guardians ad Litem are sworn in by the Juvenile Court for a two-year term and work as a team with an attorney advocate. Their recommendations on the child's needs assist the judge in making the best possible decision on the child's future.
The term "ad litem" is Latin for "this litigation" or "for this case". Thus, a Guardian ad Litem helps to represent a child for only the duration of the court proceedings and does not serve as a legal guardian.
::Guardian ad Litem for North Carolina::